Cuban Woman Recovers After Complex Facial Tissue Removal

Ariannis Fuentes Robles, a Cuban resident, underwent a three-hour surgery at Juan Paz Camejo Hospital in the municipality of Sagua de Tánamo (Holguín) to remove half a pound of tissue from her face. The operation was successful, and she is now recovering favorably after this intricate procedure. This surgery marks the first of its kind performed by maxillofacial surgeon Arelis Rabelo Castillo, according to Yeletnys Robles Reve, a journalist from Cuba's state radio, who shared the news on Facebook.

This operation is the first of several surgeries that Ariannis Fuentes will need to fully restore her face. Despite the regime's usual tendency to use such medical achievements for propaganda, the local newspaper (www.ahora.cu) has not reported on what the radio journalist calls the "conquest and essence of the revolution."

One online user, Juan Carlos Romero Santos, expressed his emotional response to the surgery's news. He mentioned that he is a neighbor of the patient and knows both the hospital and the doctor who performed the surgery. "She comes from humble beginnings and, like many others, lacks access to water, suffers from power outages, walks on foot, and is a victim of inflation. Yet, her love and dedication never wane. My respects, Arelis," he said.

The maxillofacial surgery on Ariannis Fuentes occurred amidst a backdrop of state neglect towards public health, which continues to receive 14 times less investment compared to tourism. This is despite the country's failure to regain pre-pandemic visitor numbers, even as the global tourism sector is booming.

Other complex surgeries have also been conducted in Cuba this year. In January, doctors at Havana's pediatric hospital successfully removed a malignant tumor from the right ovary of a 9-year-old girl. Initially, doctors thought the lump in her abdomen was related to menstruation. However, after further examination, they discovered it was a stage II ovarian teratoma. Dr. Naila Ayrado, who led the case, explained that these tumors are typically benign and contain various tissues, giving them a monstrous appearance—hence the name teratoma.

Due to the quick diagnosis and surgery, the encapsulated tumor had not metastasized, and the operation was a success.

In February, doctors in Santa Clara removed a four-pound tumor from the chest of a 69-year-old patient, who recovered well after the surgery. A multidisciplinary team at the Celestino Hernández Robau Oncological Hospital performed the operation to extract a rare liposarcoma from the patient's chest wall. The patient, Leoncio Hernández Quintero, showed significant improvement just six days post-surgery.

These cases are exceptional, given that Cuban hospitals are currently facing severe challenges due to the mass exodus of professionals, the state's exploitation of top doctors for foreign missions, and a chronic shortage of medications. For instance, a 7-year-old Cuban boy, Jorge Esteban Reina Llerena, is waiting to emigrate to the United States for a bone marrow transplant at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, a procedure that hasn't been performed in Cuba for years due to the lack of necessary conditions.